I’m struggling to avoid cliché here, but it isn’t easy, having heard or read countless exhortations to buy a ticket for one of the many fishing derbies held across Alaska each summer. Most center around the theme of misfortune—you know, the angler who decided against the ticket for a measly ten bucks and then went out and promptly dispatched a monster fish.

Despite the facts of my own angling fate (I have problems enough finding cameras handy whenever I manage a large fish, so being paid for one seems an outlandish dream), I never gave much thought to the source of these stories. When I have, I’ll admit to never truly believing they could be true. Then I read about the two unfortunate anglers last year who neglected to purchase tickets for the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby, and who showed up at the docks at the end of the day with silvers weighing 20.82- and 20.92-pounds. No derby ticket, however, no pay. Second place instead went to Thomas Lane of Fairbanks, who brought in a 19.12-pound coho, and third to Charlene McCay of Anchorage (18.96 pounds). The fish were worth $5,000 and $2,000 respectively. I was scared straight to Derby Headquarters in every town I visited.

When it comes to fishing derbies in Alaska, there are plenty to choose from, no matter your quarry. Two are worth special mention this month, though, as the silvers pour through the near-shore inlets, bays and sounds and start nosing up the 3,000 or so coho-spawning streams in the state. If you get the chance to visit one of these towns this autumn—and if you don’t have the time, make it—don’t become yet another cautionary tale. Buy a ticket. Catch the fish. Get paid.

And if not, it was a day spent fishing silvers in Alaska—the real grand prize.

Seward Silver Salmon Derby

August 8 through 16, 2009

As peerless Resurrection Bay plugs with tens of thousands of mint-bright silvers this month, the City of Seward and the Convention & Visitors Bureau put on one of the oldest and largest fishing derbies in Alaska. The derby runs around the clock, beginning at 6 a.m. on opening day and closing at noon on August 16. Entrants can purchase a daily ($10) ticket or pay for the season ($50), and fish can be entered that were caught from either shore or boat (since 2007, anglers may fish inside or outside Resurrection Bay, but be mindful of bag and possession limits, which differ). Tickets can be purchased at the Seward Chamber of Commerce office, Derby Headquarters in the Seward Small Boat Harbor, The Fish House, The Bay Barge Company, Miller’s Landing and aboard many charter vessels.

As in other years, there are several lucrative prizes on tap for 2009, including the always popular but obviously elusive $50,000 cash prize doled out to the person who finally catches the right tagged fish (there are more tagged fish, which bring much smaller winnings). First prize for weighed fish is again $10,000, with the runner-up receiving a healthy $5,000.

For more information, please visit www.sewardak.org/news-events/derby/salmonderby.htm.

Valdez Silver Salmon Derby

July 25 through September 6, 2009

Already in full swing, the 2009 Valdez Silver Salmon Derby promises to be as hotly contested as ever, though topping 2008 will be tough. Just one year ago—and only a week before the derby scales closed for the year—Derek Werder of Valdez landed a whopping 22.14-pound Prince William Sound coho, which in turn landed him a cool $15,000. It was the largest silver ever entered in the derby (beating Albert Verrall’s 2002 record-fish of 21.76 pounds), and only the second over 20 pounds that has been officially weighed during the past 30 years.

Anglers wishing to remain eligible for the Valdez Silver Salmon Derby may fish anywhere in the saltwater north of a line from Rocky Point to Point Freemantle. Tickets cost $10 per day or $50 for the duration. This year, tickets for the single-day (Saturday, August 8) Women’s Silver Salmon Sisterhood Derby cost $25.

For the overall derby, the grand prizes include $15,000 cash for the winner, with second and third place receiving $5,000 and $2,000. Additionally, the top 50 winners in the Valdez Silver Derby receive a Valdez Fishing Derbies fleece vest, and there are always the Daily Prizes to go after. Of particular note are Big Prize Fridays, held the first and last Fridays of the derby (July 31 and September 4). In 2009, Big Prize Friday winners will receive $500 cash.

In the Women’s Silver Salmon Sisterhood Derby, the winner will receive a payout of $1,000 cash and another $500 worth of prizes. Second place receives $500 cash and $300 in prizes, while the bronze medalist can look forward to $300 cash and $200 in prizes.

All prizes will be awarded during the annual Spawn ’til Dawn Derby Awards party, which will be held on closing day—Sunday, September 6.

For more information, please visit www.valdezfishderbies.com.